Shortenable umbrella frame

ABSTRACT

Telescopic collapsible umbrella frame has a locking device mounted on a stick formed of telescoping portions and axially displaceable therealong for locking the free ends of the outermost portions of tripartite telescoping roof-supporting ribs within a space in a handle located at an end of the stick. The locking device, in locking position thereof, is form-lockable by one of the stick portions to another of the stick portions at least until respective lock members lock the outermost and center rib portions of the roof-supporting ribs in extended condition thereof. The runners and crown are of flattened cross section with the dome ribs and struts hinged thereto in two diametrically opposed groups. The handle is flat and is aligned with the runners and crown and has two diametrically opposed chambers in which is provided a locking member in each chamber for locking the tips of the respective groups of dome ribs.

United States Patent Seitel 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] SHORTENABLE UMBRELLA FRAME Prima Exam! e -Peter M. Caun [72] inventor: Heinz Scitel, Solmgen-Ohhgs, Germany g [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, 7

Quebec. Canada [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Feb. II, 1970 Telescopic collapsible umbrella frame has a locking device mounted on a stick formed of telescoping portions and axially [2]] App! displaceable therealong for locking the free ends of the outer- 7 most portions of tripartite telescoping roof-supporting ribs [30] Foreign Application Priority Data within a space in a handle located at an end of the stick. The locking device, in locking position thereof, is form-lockable by Feb. 18, 1969 Germany ..P I9 07 964.2 one of the slick portions to another of the stick portions at least until respective lock members lock the outermost and [5112] :J.S.C(,;I center rib portions of the rooflsuppomng ribs in extended 2 f 25 44 condition thereof. The runners and crown are of flattened 1 0 care cross section with the dome ribs and struts hinged thereto in two diametrically opposed groups. The handle is flat and is [56] References cued aligned with the runners and crown and has two diametrically UNITED STATES PATENTS opposed chambers in which is provided a locking member in each chamber for locking the tips of the respective groups of 3,431,925 3/1969 Kraft v.135/25 R dome ribs 3,437,097 4/1969 Weber; .....l35/44 3,456,662 7/1969 Weber ..l35/46 T 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRZS m2 3,658,078

SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTOR Heinz SEITEL ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPRZS 1912 658 078 SHEET 2 [IF 5 INVENTOR Heinz SEITEL A TTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 SHEET 3 SF 5 A TTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3, 658. 078

SHEET u 0F 5 INVENTOR Heinz SEITEL A TTORNEY PATENTEBAPR 25 I972 SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR Heinz SEITEL A TTORNEY 1 SHORTENABLE UMBRELLA FRAME BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a shortenable umbrella and particularly to a three-stage umbrella having a novel handle and means for locking the dome rib tips.

2; Description of Prior Art Applicant's US. Pat. No. 3,456,662 relates to a telescopically shortenable umbrella frame in which the dome-ribs are made in three parts and the stick in at least three parts, with a main slide mounted on the stick, main struts hinged to the said main slide, each of the said main struts being hinged to the inner end of a central dome-rib part, a lock between each central and outer dome-rib part, the said lock automatically falling in when the dome-ribs are extended and being released by the inner part of the dome-rib when the latter is retracted, and a handle to which the dome-ribs, the ends of which are provided with enlarged heads, may be secured during extension by means of an axially displaceable locking member, the latter being capable of being positively locked in the locking position by one of the stick members to another stick member until, when the frame is extended, the locks between the central and outer dome-rib parts have engaged.

The arrangement disclosed in the above patent makes it possible, in the case of a shortenable umbrella frame of the type defined above, for the locking member automatically to release the locked, enlarged headsof the dome ribs when the frame is extended, only if the telescoping operation has ended and all of the dome-ribs have also been fully extended.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present application is to use the arrangement in the above patent alsofor shortenable umbrella frames which are of a flat shape in the folded condition. Since in this case the dome-ribs and struts are arranged in two separate bundles on each side of the stick, and, when the dome is closed, they must be located in the handle in two chambers, the production of a locking means for the heads of the domeribs in the handle of an umbrella of this kind raises problems which are not to be overcome without inventive effort. For the purpose of accomplishing the aim mentioned above, the invention provides each of the twochambers with a locking member for securing the heads of the dome-ribs, the respective locking member separating each of the two bundles of dome-ribs, as they enter the chambers, either directly or in conjunction with a centering means located at the centre of each chamber, in such a manner that each of the heads comes to rest between a part fixed to the handle on one side and one of the locking members on the other side.

According to a preferred form of execution of the invention, the centering means may be in the form of a pin having a pointed cone with locking edges, the sloping surfaces of this cone forming, in conjunction with the bevelled edges of the chamber opening and the locking members, annular lead-in funnels for the dome-rib heads.

A simplified configuration of the two locking members in the two chambers may be accomplished by making the said locking members in one piece.

A functionally satisfactory design of the two locking mem bers is obtained if these are made in the form of bushes with pointed cones arranged at their centres.

According to another simplified form of execution of the locking members, these may consist of a slide dividing the two chambers.

It is also particularly satisfactory from the functional point of view if the slides are caused to cooperate with locking edges fitted to the edges of the handle chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in two examples of execution in the drawing and is explained in greater detail hereinafter. In the drawing:

FIG. I is a longitudinal section through an umbrella frame made inaccordance with the invention, shown in the fully extended condition, but with the dome closed;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are longitudinal sections through the stick of the frame according to FIG. 1 in various phases of shortening;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the lower part of the frame in FIG. 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 shows thedetail marked E in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows the detail in FIG. 6 with the push-rod mounted in the stick occupying a different position;

FIG. 8 shows the frame of FIG. 5 but with the stick parts telescoped and the dome-rib heads locked;

FIG. 9 is a part view in perspective of the handle area in FIG. 8;

FIG. -10 shows the lower part of the umbrella frame in FIG. 1, to an enlarged scale and with another arrangement for locking the dome-rib heads;

FIG. 11 is a part view in perspective of the handle area in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a section and variant according to FIG. 10, but with the dome-rib heads locked and the stick parts telescoped; FIG. 13 is a part view in perspective of the handle area in FIG. 12.

The stick-dome-ribs, and strut linkages had to be shown in the drawing shorter than they actually are in their relative dimensions, since otherwise it would have been impossible to reproduce the details with the required clarity.

The stick of the umbrella frame illustrated consists of three hollow members 1, 2 and 3 capable of telescoping into each other, member 3 telescoping into member 2 and member 2 into member 1. At its free end, member 1 carries an umbrella crown, while member 3 carries at its free end a handle 5.

Dome-ribs, generally marked 7, are hinged to crown 4 with hinges 6 and grooves 60, on both sides of the stick, in the form of two bundles B (FIGS. 9, ll, 13). Dome-ribs 7 have ballheads -8 (so-called points) at theirfree ends, and, like the stick, consist of three telescoping parts, an inner part 9, a central part 10, and an outer part 11. The inner ends of central parts 10, of which only one eye 12 is visible in FIG. 1, are each hinged by a strut 13, known as a main strut. to a slide 14. known as the main slide, moving along the stick. Main slide 14 v is locked in the position shown in FIG. I by an appropriate locking means. It may also be locked to the stick in the vicinity of the crown, when the dome frame is open. Suitable locking means for these purposes are known and are therefore not shown in the drawing in order to avoid complicating the illustration.

Located between main slide 14 and crown 4 is another slide 15, known as the auxiliary slide and moving along the stick. Each main strut 13 is hinged to auxiliary slide 15 by means of an auxiliary strut 16 at a joint 17. As may be gathered from the outrigger-like shape and the arrangement of two bundles of dome-ribs, one on each side of the stick, crown 4, auxiliary slide 15, and main slide 14 are made flat and are in alignment with handle 5 which is also fiat. This produces a'so-called flat umbrella frame which has a circular dome when open but is flat when closed.

Central dome-rib part 10 and outer dome-rib part 11 may be locked in relation to each other when extended. Locking means of this kind are also known and are therefore not shown in detail in the drawing. When a dome-rib is extended, the said locking means snaps in automatically. When the dome-rib is retracted again, the lock between parts 10 and 11 is retained initially, while parts 9 and 10 telescope. At approximately half the travel, a ring 19 mounted on dome-rib part 10 so as to be displaceable against a helical spring 18 strikes the outer end of inner dome-rib part 9 and thus releases the locking means.

Stick members 1, 2 and 3 are locked in relation to each other by spring-loaded lugs 20,21.

Lug 20 locks stick parts 1 and 2 together and, according to FIGS. 5 and 10, forms a part of an arm 22 which is under the action of a hairpin spring 23. Arm 22 and spring 23 are mounted in a bush 24 attached to the upper end of central stick member 2 by means of a stud 25. In the locked position in FIGS. 1 to 3, and 10, lug engages with stick members 1,2 through slots 26,27. Edge 28 of the said lug is of a shape such that the lug recedes into the interior of the stick when the parts of the stick are telescoped by inwardly directed forces acting upon crown 4 and handle 5 of the stick. In this direction, therefore, the locking action of lug 20 is merely frictional. In the opposite direction, i.e. when the'stick is extended, an edge 29 prevents the parts of the stick from coming a art.

Lug 21 serves as a locking means for parts 2 and 3 of the stick, and is attached to a leaf spring 290 which has one end anchored in a hole 30 in the wall of stick part 3 and is therefore not axially displaceable. The other end 31 of the said leaf spring rests against a spring push-pull rod 32, part of a control member 33, the purpose of which is explained hereinafter. Like lug 20, lug 21 projects, in the locked position shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, through two slots 2a, 3a in stick parts 2,3. Edge of lug 31' is of a shape such that, when the frame is extended, the locking action is positive in both directions. Therefore, when the frame is collapsed by pressure on the two ends of the stick, it is only frictionally locked lug 20 that can yield initially, whereas lug 21 remains in the locked position shown in FIGS. 5 and 10.

The result of this is that, during telescoping, initially only stick members 1 and 2 move in relation to each other and no movement takes place between stick members 2 and 3. However, bottom edge 36 of stick member I eventually reaches lug 21 and presses it radially inwards, so that it assumes the position shown in FIGS. 4, 8, 12. This occurs shortly before stick members 1 and 2 are fully telescoped together. From then onwards, the positive lock between stick members 2 and 3 is released by lug 21 as far as telescoping together is concerned. Thus lug 21 yields to the pressure telescoping stick members 2 and 3 together, so that the stick may be completely telescoped into the position shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 12. When the stick members are extended, however, lug 21, in dropping into slot 2a, forms a positive lock, even when stick member 1 is pushed inwardly, so that members 2 and 3 cannot become completely separated from each other. This ensures that, during telescoping, relative movement initially occurs between stick member 1 and members 2 and 3 which are still locked together, whereas relative movement between stick members 2 and 3 can occur only when the movement between stick members 1 and 2 is almost completed.

When the stick is extended, the sequence of events is somewhat different, as explained hereinafter.

The side of handle 5 facing umbrella crown 4 has two chambers 36a and 36b serving to accommodate dome-rib ends 8. In

order to permit entry of the said domerib heads, the said chambers have openings 37a,37b, the diameter of which is made somewhat smaller than the diameter of the chambers as a result of shoulders 38a,38b.

Two locking members are mounted in the two chambers so that they are axially displaceable. According to the example of execution in FIGS. 5 to 9, the said locking members consist of two bushes 39,40 arranged to be axially displaceable in chambers 36a,36b. By injection moulding, the said two bushes may be made in one piece which is under the action of a helical spring 41. Thisspring tends to urge bushes 39,40 into the locked position (FIG. 8). The said two bushes slide up and down on pins 5a,5b fixed at the centres of chambers 36a,36b. In conjunction with cavities 39a,40a in bushes 39,40, these pins form annular spaces and they are provided with conical points 5e,5f. In conjunction with chamfered openings 37a,37b in chambers 36a,36b, and with the correspondingly chamfered edges 39b,40b of bushes 39,40, the oblique surfaces of conical points 5e,5f form annular funnels. These annular funnels facilitate the introduction of dome-rib heads 8 into chambers 36a,36b. Conical points 5e,5f are also provided with locking edges 50,511 and therefore have still another function, namely to lock dome-rib heads 8 into handle 5 in conjunction with bushes 39,40. In the variant according to FIGS. 10 to 13 the locking members consist of flat slides 390,400 which run, secured against rotation, in grooves 50,51; in handle 5, thus dividing chambers 36a,36b into two parts. The said flat slides are also preferably united into one component and, as in FIG. 12, are urged into the locked position by means of a spring 410 corresponding to spring 41.

When theframe is telescoped together, heads 8 enter chambers 36a,36b. When the frame is almost telescoped, slides 39,40 and 390,400 pass from the positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 into the locked positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 12.

In the variant according to FIGS. 5 to 9, in these positions dome-rib heads 8 are locked between pins 5a,5b, or locking edges 5c,5d thereof, and internal surfaces 39c,40c of bushes 39,40. In the variant according to FIGS. 10 to 13, dome-rib heads 8 are locked between slides 390,400 and locking edges 50c,50d below chamber openings 37a,37b. The manner in which locking members 39,40 and 390,400 pass into the locked position only when the frame has been almost fully telescoped is described hereinafter.

In order to render locking members 39,40 and 390,400 automatically operative so that they lock and unlock at the correct moment, a control member 33 is provided. This member consists of a pin 42 which is displa ceably mounted in stick member 3 and to which push-pull rod 32 is connected. Control member 33 is of a configuration such that in moving from the position in FIGS. 8 and 12 into the position in FIGS. 5 and 10, i.e. towards umbrella crown 4, it moves in the opposite direction to locking members 39,40 and 390,400, i.e. towards the handle end, and conversely. To this end, pin 42 has a conical recess 43 with a conicalsurface 44 which, in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, serves to accommodate balls 45. The one-piece dual locking member 39,40 and 390,400 is provided with a corresponding conical recess 46, but conical surface 47 thereof runs in the opposite direction to conical surface 44. Recess 46 accepts balls 45 when the locking member is in the unlocked position as in FIGS. 5 and 10. In the position in FIGS. 5 and 10, control member 33, by means of balls 45, prevents locking members 39,40 and 390,400 from passing into the locked position under the action of springs 41,410. It is only when control member 33 has been moved to the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 12 that balls 45 can pass into recess 43, in which they allow the locking members to pass into the locking position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12. This therefore requires that control'member 33 be moved towards the handle end of the stick. Conversely, when control member 33 is moved from the position in FIGS. 8 and 12 towards umbrella crown 4, then conical surface 44 forces balls 45 outwards, these in turn press against conical'surface 47, thus moving locking members 39,40 and 390,400 into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 10.

Control member 33 is moved in both directions through middle stick member 2 by means of push-pull rod 32. The two positions which control member 33 can assume, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 on the one hand and FIGS. 8 and 12 on the other hand, are defined by stop lug 48 which is attached to rod 32 and engages permanently in a slot 49 acting as a catch in stick member 3, the axial length thereof being equal to the distance travelled by locking members 39,40 and 390,400 in passing from the position shown in'FIGS. 5 and 10 to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 12. In both terminal positions, control member 33 is frictionally secured by a lug 50 engaging with a spring cup 51 formed at the top of leaf-spring 290.

Control member 33 is moved from the position in FIGS. 5 and 10 to that in FIGS. 8 and 12 by a stop 53 on bush 24, the said stop striking lug 50 near the end of the second telescoping phase. Heads 8 of the dome-ribs which entered annular spaces 39a,40a or chambers 36a,36b formed by slides 390,400 during the telescoping operation, are thus locked by locking members 39,40 or 390,400 passing into the locking position shown in FIGS. 8 and 12. Because of the positively controlled sequence followed by the telescoping stick members (first l in relation to 2 and then 1 and 2 in relation to 3), this locking cannot occur prematurely. If the frame is extended again,

because of the lock effected by cup 5], rod 32 and control member 33 remain in the position in FIGS. 8 and 12. The positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are thus passed through, stick members 1 and 2 being first displaced and locked because of lug 21. Towardsthe end of the extension of members 2 and 3, lug 48 drops into a catch-recess 54 in stick member 2. If stick members 2 and 3 are still not extended fully, i.e. until lug 21 has engaged, then the dropping of lug 48 into catch-recess 54, as in FIGS. 2 and 7, interrupts any further movement of pushpull rod 32 with pin 42. Further movement of stickmember 3 to its terminal position, until lug 21 drops into slot 2a, causes lug 50 to slide over cup 5.1, whereupon locking members 39,40 and 390,400 are moved to the release position by pushpull rod 32. During this phase, lug 48 is raised, by means of an edge 56 which is the top limit of slot 49 acting as a catch in stick member 3, out of catch 54 by oblique surface 55 as shown in FIG. 7, so that stick member 3 can be moved on to its terminal position.

lclaim:

1. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame in which the dome-ribs are made in three parts and the stick in at least three parts, with a main slide mounted on the stick, main struts hinged to the said main slide, each of the said main struts being hinged to the inner end of a central dome-rib part, a

lock between each central and outer dome-rib part, the said locking automatically dropping in when the dome-ribs are extended and being released by the inner part of the dome-rib when the latter is retracted, and a handle to which the domeribs, the ends of which are provided with enlarged heads, may be secured during extension by means of an axially displaceable locking member, that latter being capable of being positively locked in the locking position by one of the stick members to another stick member until, when the frame is extended, the locks between the central and outer dome-rib parts have engaged with flat auxiliary and main slides, and with dome ribs and struts hinged thereto in two diametrically opposite groups, with a flat handle aligned with the said auxiliary and main slides and having two diametrically opposite chambers at the stick for the reception of the heads of the dome-ribs, characterizedin that each of the two chambers is provided with a longitudinally-displaceable locking member having means for orienting the heads centrally of said chambers and means normally urging the locking members toward said heads when they are introduced into said chambers, and a centering member integral with said handle and projecting longitudinally from said chambers toward said heads and toward which said heads are oriented by said means for orienting of said locking members, said centering members including a locking part projecting toward'sajd means for orienting so that each dome-rib head comes to rest between a locking part and a portion of one of the locking members, and means operatively connected between said stick and said displaceable locking members for operating the same in relation to erection and collapse of said umbrella frame.

2. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the centering members consists of a pin exhibiting a pointed cone with locking edges; and in that the oblique surfaces of these pointed cones form, in conjunction with the chamfered edges of the chamber openings and of the locking members. annular entry funnels for the dome-rib heads.

3. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the two locking'members in the two chambers are made in one piece.

4. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the two locking members are in the form of bushes having pointed cones arranged at their centres.

5. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking members consist of slides dividing the two chambers.

6. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 5, characterized in that the slides cooperate with locking edges formed on edges pftl e chan berp in the handle. 

1. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame in which the dome-ribs are made in three parts and the stick in at least three parts, with a main slide mounted on the stick, main struts hinged to the said main slide, each of the said main struts being hinged to the inner end of a central dome-rib part, a lock between each central and outer dome-rib part, the said locking automatically dropping in when the dome-ribs are extended and being released by the inner part of the dome-rib when the latter is retracted, and a handle to which the dome-ribs, the ends of which are provided with enlarged heads, may be secUred during extension by means of an axially displaceable locking member, that latter being capable of being positively locked in the locking position by one of the stick members to another stick member until, when the frame is extended, the locks between the central and outer dome-rib parts have engaged with flat auxiliary and main slides, and with dome ribs and struts hinged thereto in two diametrically opposite groups, with a flat handle aligned with the said auxiliary and main slides and having two diametrically opposite chambers at the stick for the reception of the heads of the dome-ribs, characterized in that each of the two chambers is provided with a longitudinally-displaceable locking member having means for orienting the heads centrally of said chambers and means normally urging the locking members toward said heads when they are introduced into said chambers, and a centering member integral with said handle and projecting longitudinally from said chambers toward said heads and toward which said heads are oriented by said means for orienting of said locking members, said centering members including a locking part projecting toward said means for orienting so that each dome-rib head comes to rest between a locking part and a portion of one of the locking members, and means operatively connected between said stick and said displaceable locking members for operating the same in relation to erection and collapse of said umbrella frame.
 2. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the centering members consists of a pin exhibiting a pointed cone with locking edges; and in that the oblique surfaces of these pointed cones form, in conjunction with the chamfered edges of the chamber openings and of the locking members, annular entry funnels for the dome-rib heads.
 3. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the two locking members in the two chambers are made in one piece.
 4. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the two locking members are in the form of bushes having pointed cones arranged at their centres.
 5. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking members consist of slides dividing the two chambers.
 6. A telescopically shortenable umbrella frame according to claim 5, characterized in that the slides cooperate with locking edges formed on edges of the chambers in the handle. 